I recently talked to a Rhodes college class studying urban parks, and Overton Park in particular. It was a writing class, and the teacher asked me if the park influenced my writing. My answer was no, not very much. However, the park greatly influences my artwork.

Here's the first proof of my first big block (12x19") that I carved for my new Line-o-scribe press. It's about as big as the press can handle, but it's much larger than I've been doing, and I feel like whole new worlds are opening up before me. I'm working on a series of art deco inspired travel prints of places I love, including both parks in St. Louis that I painted last week.

However, I had to start much closer to home. This tree is my favorite one in Overton Park, and it's my closest sanctuary place. I continue to be drawn to it both physically and artistically. I've painted it a lot this spring. It's lovely to have such a wonderful muse just a few blocks from my house.